Career Article 153:
Ten Quick Tips to Improve Your Résumé

By Tamara Dowling, CPRW

Your résumé is the first step toward your new job, and maybe even a whole new career. Here are some résumé writing tips to help get you started. Whether you use our free Résumé Generator, write it on your own, or hire a writer, here are some résumé tips to improve your résumé and your chances of getting an interview.

1. Double-check your spelling.
2. Make sure your phrases and sentences are the proper tense: past jobs in past tense and your current job in the present tense.
3. In the Professional Experience or Work History area of your résumé, your goal is to share the highlights of your responsibilities and achievements. Paint your picture clearly and succinctly.
4. Start your phrases or sentences with a power verb. Click here to see our list of powerful action verbs.
5. Avoid industry jargon or abbreviations. Your reader who is a recruiter or Human Resources Manager may not be familiar with the industry terminology.
6. Quantify to Qualify. Whenever possible, use actual numbers and examples to demonstrate your past successes. No need to go too deep about exactly how you did it, you'll follow up in your interview with the details.
7. For chronological résumés, use bullet points so your reader can quickly scan your work history.
8. For scanner friendly résumés, use an Arial or Helvetica style font. Avoid graphics and italics. Also, remember to send your scannable résumé in a flat envelope because sometimes scanners cannot clearly read folded documents.
9. If you can't afford a professional edit, find a talented friend to carefully edit your résumé.
10. Be honest. It is tempting to add a little white lie to "beef up" your résumé. Don't do it. It will likely be back to haunt you later.

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